The Republic Rome began as a small village. Under Etruscan rule, Rome did not have its own government until 509 B.C. when Rome finally defeated the Etruscan's. They developed their republic so that power would be divided among the people, so that no one would have all the power like the hated king of Etruscan. The senate held most of the power, consisting of 300 wealthy land owners. Also having power were two consuls. Like the senate, they were wealthy land owners. They lead the government and military, and were limited to one term each in order to avoid a supreme ruler, however Romans were not blind to the advantages of a suprime ruler. In times of war, a dictator could be appointed to have complete control over the government for 6 months.
Later in the republic, lower class citizens demanded rights. They were then able to elect their own officials called tribunes. Although the senate still held the majority of the power, the tribunes were able to stop laws that endangered rights. The lower class slowly forced rights, evenutally allowing them to hold a seat in the senate.
external image roman%20senate.jpg
The Empire
War tore the Roman Republic to pieces. As loot came in from foreign land, a new wealthy class emerged. Previously, corruption was controlled by the republic, but as people became richer, greed overtook honesty. Messy civil wars tore through the empire over power, and one great ruler emerged. Julius Caesar betrayed Rome, and instead of disbanding his army after a military campaign in France, Caesar swept through the empire with his army, forcing the senate into making him dictator. To preserve the republic, Caesar was stabbed to death, making the empire fall once more into civil war. Ultimately, the murder of Caesar did not save the republic. Octavian, Caesars grandnephew picked up where he left off, making himself king, just stripped of the title so the Roman people would not be outraged. Following Augustus were a string of emperors, until the division of the empire. Because there was no system to replace an emperor once he died, the transition was often bloody.
external image caesar.jpg
Military
Rome was almost always at war. From Carthage to Gaul, the Romans needed a strong army for everything from conquest to civil turmoil. Much of the Romans success can be attributed to the integral roll the army played. In the beginning of the Republic, the army was made of a farmer militia who would fight then return to their farms. They had new tactics, fighting as a group instead of a mass of chaotic individuals. Centuries made of 100 men made a basic fighting unit, usually in a tight phalanx formation with a formidable wall of long spears facing the enemy. As the empire grew, farmers could no longer serve in all the empires wars and keep up with their farms. Professional soldiers then made up the military, being paid wages instead of simply doing their civic duty. The Romans needed to keep up a large army, and so incentives for forengers to join were enacted, such as provinding citizenship upon retirement. This lead to the army being primarily forigners. Less than 1% of the Roman military was actually Roman at one point. When farmers made up the main fighting force, only the wealthy could be in the cavalry or have a command post, but as service became a career, the soldier was able to move up the ranks over time.
external image 1139882291.jpg
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main religion was christianity which is where Jesus lived, in Judaea, during the reign of Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius.
early christians were focused on converting other non believers to their newly formed religion
organized religious communities were created by Jesus' apostles across the Roman Empire
Jerusalem served as the central point of administration until the city was later destroyed by later Roman emperor, Titus, in AD 70.
Christianity appealed to people without power and who wanted to feel equal to others. The Christian communities offered food, medicine, clothing, and shelter to everyone.
Christians were often killed because they refused to offer sacrifices to Roman Gods.
The Christians were persecuted several times, first when they were blamed for the Great Fire of Rome, which destroyed much of the city. Then, between 303 and 311, emperors Diocletian and Galerius systematically persecuted them in an effort to restore the original Roman values, including the pious worship of the Roman Gods.
In 312, new Roman emperor, Constantine 1, said that he owed all of his success to to the Christian God. From there forward Christianity became the main religion in Roman society and churches were built. Also, christians were given the authority to be civil judges.
E
In early Roman empire the majority of the food came from farmers who grew grain.
After the punic wars slave were then the primary farmers.
The Romans traded with the Etruscans primarily in the beginning of the Roman republic.
Main Roman food relied on sweet and sour flavors
A
Gladiators- slaves or servants who fight to the death in Gladiatorial Games four of five times yearly. Top Gladiators were considered the "pop stars" of their era, but never were considered citizens.
Roman art was influenced greatly by the Greeks.
Romans would import Greek sculptures to decorate their homes and public buildings.
Roman sculpture turned bland, emotionless people into powerful, relistic stone statues.
Roman architecture was based on Greek architecture, but less plain.
The Romans improved upon the basic arch and dome.
The Romans created new kinds of architecture, such as the Baths of Caracalla.
T
Aquaducts: Man made tunnels carrying water from place to place
One of Rome's greater accomplishments
Purpose was to carry water to dryer area's
Made of stone, bricks, concrete
Carried water to fountains, latrine's, baths, pools, etc.
Roman Roads: For transportation
Mostly used for movement of troops in the Roman army
Romans learned to make roads from the Etruscans in Italy
Went up to 5 feet high, 50 feet wide at its largest
Most large ones were 40 feet wide, and smaller ones were usually 8 feet wide
Used limestone and slabs of lava to create some roads
Other materials mostly used were: flint, broken stones, rough concrete, gravel
First road was known as the "Queen of Roads"
Romans wanted their roads as straight as possible to avoid carts going offtrack
250px-PompeiiStreet.jpg
< This is a roman road
Roman Weapons: For war
Most men fought with spears
They couldnt fight with swords unless they were wealthy
You were longer term soldiers if you knew how to use the weapons well
Men in the front carried thrusting spears
Men in the middle and back carried throwing spears
All men carried back up thrusting swords
23431-33.jpg
< These are roman spears
S
Social Classes Some of the different classes were(in no specific order) peasant farmers, slaves, patricians (Wealthiest people) Former peasant farmers ended up moving to the cities, which eventually they had became poor, and with no jobs. Patricians Patricians comes from the latin word meaning father. These people are from the most powerful families of Rome. Their Status was only granted if it was by birth. These people were in charge for overpowering Rome's King and establishing the Roman public. They makeup 10% of the population. Slaves In Rome there was alot of slaves for every three free people one of them would be a slave. Roman slaves were called servus. Romans stereotyped slaves as untrustworthy, foreign, lazy, and ugly. Most slaves worked outside the house in farms, factories, and mines. Some educated slaves were tutors. Public Baths These were used for cleaning of the body and to relax and enjoy for pleasure almost like nowadays we have pools. The entrance fee was pretty affordable for most free romans. Rich Romans had there own at their homes. Since it gets hot alot during the year so the baths got very gross and crowded and dirty.
articles used: Roman Slaves, Roman Slaves, Roman Arcitecture
Summary Of Romes Achievements:
Religion was based on some rituals, and traditions. Rome was focused on mostly selling and trading. The Romans are known for Public Baths which are like pools. They had very good resources. Rome was almost always at war and fighting all the time. They had very many interesting tools. Most food came from farms and they loved their sweets.
Ancient Rome
Roman Kingdom753 BC – 509 BC
Roman Republic
508 BC – 27 BC
Roman Empire
27 BC – AD 1453
G
The Republic Rome began as a small village. Under Etruscan rule, Rome did not have its own government until 509 B.C. when Rome finally defeated the Etruscan's. They developed their republic so that power would be divided among the people, so that no one would have all the power like the hated king of Etruscan. The senate held most of the power, consisting of 300 wealthy land owners. Also having power were two consuls. Like the senate, they were wealthy land owners. They lead the government and military, and were limited to one term each in order to avoid a supreme ruler, however Romans were not blind to the advantages of a suprime ruler. In times of war, a dictator could be appointed to have complete control over the government for 6 months.
Later in the republic, lower class citizens demanded rights. They were then able to elect their own officials called tribunes. Although the senate still held the majority of the power, the tribunes were able to stop laws that endangered rights. The lower class slowly forced rights, evenutally allowing them to hold a seat in the senate.The Empire
War tore the Roman Republic to pieces. As loot came in from foreign land, a new wealthy class emerged. Previously, corruption was controlled by the republic, but as people became richer, greed overtook honesty. Messy civil wars tore through the empire over power, and one great ruler emerged. Julius Caesar betrayed Rome, and instead of disbanding his army after a military campaign in France, Caesar swept through the empire with his army, forcing the senate into making him dictator. To preserve the republic, Caesar was stabbed to death, making the empire fall once more into civil war. Ultimately, the murder of Caesar did not save the republic. Octavian, Caesars grandnephew picked up where he left off, making himself king, just stripped of the title so the Roman people would not be outraged. Following Augustus were a string of emperors, until the division of the empire. Because there was no system to replace an emperor once he died, the transition was often bloody.Military
Rome was almost always at war. From Carthage to Gaul, the Romans needed a strong army for everything from conquest to civil turmoil. Much of the Romans success can be attributed to the integral roll the army played. In the beginning of the Republic, the army was made of a farmer militia who would fight then return to their farms. They had new tactics, fighting as a group instead of a mass of chaotic individuals. Centuries made of 100 men made a basic fighting unit, usually in a tight phalanx formation with a formidable wall of long spears facing the enemy. As the empire grew, farmers could no longer serve in all the empires wars and keep up with their farms. Professional soldiers then made up the military, being paid wages instead of simply doing their civic duty. The Romans needed to keep up a large army, and so incentives for forengers to join were enacted, such as provinding citizenship upon retirement. This lead to the army being primarily forigners. Less than 1% of the Roman military was actually Roman at one point. When farmers made up the main fighting force, only the wealthy could be in the cavalry or have a command post, but as service became a career, the soldier was able to move up the ranks over time.
R
E
A
T
Aquaducts: Man made tunnels carrying water from place to placeRoman Roads: For transportation
Roman Weapons: For war
S
Social Classes Some of the different classes were(in no specific order) peasant farmers, slaves, patricians (Wealthiest people) Former peasant farmers ended up moving to the cities, which eventually they had became poor, and with no jobs.Patricians Patricians comes from the latin word meaning father. These people are from the most powerful families of Rome. Their Status was only granted if it was by birth. These people were in charge for overpowering Rome's King and establishing the Roman public. They makeup 10% of the population.
Slaves In Rome there was alot of slaves for every three free people one of them would be a slave. Roman slaves were called servus. Romans stereotyped slaves as untrustworthy, foreign, lazy, and ugly. Most slaves worked outside the house in farms, factories, and mines. Some educated slaves were tutors.
Public Baths These were used for cleaning of the body and to relax and enjoy for pleasure almost like nowadays we have pools. The entrance fee was pretty affordable for most free romans. Rich Romans had there own at their homes. Since it gets hot alot during the year so the baths got very gross and crowded and dirty.
articles used: Roman Slaves, Roman Slaves, Roman Arcitecture
Summary Of Romes Achievements:
Religion was based on some rituals, and traditions. Rome was focused on mostly selling and trading. The Romans are known for Public Baths which are like pools. They had very good resources. Rome was almost always at war and fighting all the time. They had very many interesting tools. Most food came from farms and they loved their sweets.